I'm of the personal belief that people have left the Republican party and registered as 'independent' because they are sick of all the 'republican establishment elites' controlling everything and pushing the party to moderation. I like to call these elites 'Progressive Republicans' and in fact, they were the exact reason why, during GW's years I quit the Republican Party and registered Independent.
Same here, in '06, over that POS Amnesty Bill, and because until last November, we had no viable Republican Party in my county. We have open primaries in NC.
My very first election was when the 1st George ran (not Washington.. Bush).. and I voted for him. He was elected. Wow.. I thought I had some serious influence.
Every vote since has been Republican. At the beginning it was mostly a moral vote (against Abortion).. but as I evolved as learned and opened my eyes to the Conservative Principals (which I had always lived by, just never new they were organized under something called Conservative Principals) I continued to Vote Republican.
So... years pass.. I find myself in Baghdad, Iraq during an election to choose between McCain and O'Bummer.
After getting my feet back in the States I registered Independent and don't plan on coming back until they return to Conservative Principals.
I will not vote for a communist that says he's just like me. BullS$$T !!
Post Modification: Made me laugh. I was roommates with BMG in college that first year I voted. We put up a huge computer printer paper across our window that everyone on campus could see.. it read "We Want Bush". Strangely.. the girls in the dorm across the parking lot started flashing after that.